The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-11-12
FAIR OPHELIA.
CHAPTER Iv.-(coNrINuED.)
by S. E.

$50 be IL. Since you doubt 1t you
shall know the truth--if only to hum
ole some of your miserable pride"
he said, and each word fell clearly on
her ears. "You tell me Simon is in
nocent; you are right, and when you
Tx upon me as the criminal you are
not far out. / did not think had
such an exceedingly clever wife. The
penetration you have shown has quite
bewiIdered mel'
"You are guilty. You killed poor
Basu!" Lily gasped, scarce daring to
believe him, though his confession
only strengthened her fears.
"Yes; you might have known |
alone was guilty. Glandore was your
accepted lover. therefore my rival; and
as he refused to give you up, struck
him from my PATH / would do 1t
again II necessary"
"You villain! And TO think another
has suffered all this time for your
guilt But you shall not escape un-
punished; the world shall know the
truth from your own lips"
Ralph laughed, and the sound
grated unpleasantly on Lily's ears; 1t
was so full of terrible triumph.
IF had feared you, do you think
should have betrayed my secret?" he
asked mockingly. "You are my wife,
and a wife is not allowed 10 give her
husband mp TO justicel You will suffer,
my peerless Lily suffer such anguish
as You have never before felt Do
not know how your soul will shrink
from the bond which links you TO an
assassing | delight in your torture, as
you have glor.ed all the months in
scorning my love. We are quits now"
II will never stay with you'll The
chains that bind us have been severed
by your own evil words Nothing on
earth would induce me TO remain be-
meath the roof of a murderer
unfortunately you have no choice
The law has no power TO free you, SO
you must reconcile yourself TO your
lifel"
"Haye you no pity for the man who
suffers for your crimeg Can you sec
his wife widowed-his child branded
with shame, and rest contenty" LILY
asked despairingly.
.Quite so. Some one must bear the
blame--why not Simony'
"You are fiendl My father a.
least will listen TO my prayer and take
me from you"
al do not think you will tell him
You are perfectly aware that the shocl
of knowing he had married his daugh
ter 10 a scoundrel would kill him."
Lily clasped her hands convulsivel.
together, and with faltering step
crossed the room. She feltsuffocate'
faint, and longed to be free from
her husbands baleful presence.
AS the door closed behind heI
Ralph laughed heartily, and, with
gay song upon his lips, fastened away
delighted at the pain he had just IN
ficted.
Little did he guess that another ha
overheard his wretched confession
one whose voice the law had no powe
20 silence.
Hidden In the tiny room leadin
from the boudoir, hearing every wor
with a world Of terrible anguish, Clips
had listened silently TO the end; neve
once moving or uttering cry, thong
often tempted TO do so.
Her face was CHASTITY In its awf'
pallor; her eyes dilated and vacan
the hand which grasped the vely,
portiere might have been carved
marble, II was SO still--so rigid
.Is II truel Can II be possiblei ~
his own. words condemn himP ST
moaned. wondering what fearf
weight lay at her breast, turning h
heart to stone, and the life-blood to Il
coldness.
Though she had never loved h
brother, she had never thought nj
guilty OF crime; the knowledge ga
her a shock OF terrible pain, makif
her grow faint and dizzy.
"Poor--poor Lily And TO think h
young life Is 20 be sacrificed TO ,
wicked spitel She must not-shall n
suffer How can / keep silent wh'
the truth viii make so many happyy'
Gipsy shivered, and stole softly
her own room, where she could pond
quietly over this fearful secret.
Long she sat there, lost In deep re
erie; the day drew to close, and di
shadows were falling before she rous
herself. Curiously enough. no one b